High School Cheerleaders Honored At FCA Banquet
March 15, 2016
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes Spirit of Champions awards were presented Monday night at a banquet hosted by the First Baptist Church of Pensacola. Cheerleaders and dance team members from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties recognized were:
Pensacola High Cheerleading – Ya’China Dixon
Jay High Cheerleading – Leslie Kinder
Catholic High Cheerldeading – Serena Bruder
Catholic School Dance – Macy Calvasina
Milton High Cheerleading – Amy Fulmer
Northview High Cheerleading – Hannah Nelson
Pine Forest High Cheerleading – Kamryn McGinty
West Florida School Cheerleading– Charlyn Murdy
East Hill Christian Cheerleading - Sara Dominey
Escambia High High Cheerleading – Ricora Jones
Gulf Breeze High Cheerleading – Pepper Rice
Picture top: Fellowship of Christian Athletes Spirit of Champions award winners Monday night at the First baptist Church of Pensacola. (Note: Photo was submitted in black and white.) Pictured inset: Hanna Nelson, FCA winner from Northview High School. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Wins Their First Game Of The Annual Aggie Classic
March 15, 2016
The annual Aggie Classic is underway with 24 teams from five states and is spread across six different play sites in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
“The Aggie Classic continues to be one of the best high school tournaments in the country. This year we have drawn 18 teams from Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Florida, not including our six host site teams.” said Greg Blackmon, Head Coach for Tate High School. “The commitment by our community and our Boosters to put on an event of this magnitude is huge. I am truly thankful for everyone’s assistance. The venues for the games have expanded and are the best diamonds in our area. We are looking forward to a great week of competition.”
Tate 7, Morris (OK) 3
The Tate Aggies won their first game 7-3 over Morris, OK, in the annual Aggie Classic Monday night.
Madison Lockman earned the win for Tate, allowing one run, striking out four, walking two and giving up four hits over four innings.
The Aggies took an early one-up lead in bottom of the first on a Cole Halfacre single that sent Mason Land across home plate. Tate had a four-run second inning with scores on a three-run error and an RBI single from Branden Fryman.
Mason Land 1-3, 3R; Branden Fryman 1-3, RBI; Cole Halfacre 1-4, RBI; Logan Blackmon 1-2; Logan McGuffey 1-3, R; Josh Kea Kea 1-2, Dbl, 2R.
West Florida 6, Pryor, OK 3
Coweta, OK 9, Escambia 4
Milton 3, Union, OK 2
Gulf Breeze 11, Edmond North, OK 10 (9 innings)
Shawnee, OK 3 Chiles, FL 8
El Reno, OK 4, Next Level, AL 2
Second Baptist, TX 3, Jenks, OK 10
Stillwater, OK 15, Emery/Weiner 8
Washington, OK 1, Christ Presbyterian, TN 11
Piedmont, OK 4. Maryville, TN 2
SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY
At Tate High School
4 p.m. – Jenks (OK) vs. Chiles
7 p.m. – Muskogee (OK) vs. Tate
At Milton High School
4 p.m. – Morris (OK) vs. Next Level Baseball (AL)
7 p.m. – Coweta (OK) vs. Milton
At Gulf Breeze
4 p.m. – Union (OK) vs. Second Baptist (TX)
7 p.m. – El Reno(OK) vs. Gulf Breeze
At Escambia
4 p.m. – Edmond North (OK) vs. Emery/Weiner (TX)
7 p.m. – Pryor (OK) vs. Escambia
At West Florida High
4 p.m. – Piedmont (OK) vs. Leon
7 p.m. – Washington (OK) vs. West Florida
At Woodham Middle
4 p.m. – Shawnee (OK) vs. Christ Presbyterian (TN)
7 p.m. – Stillwater (OK) vs. Maryville (TN)
Local Unemployment Rate Increasing
March 15, 2016
The latest job numbers released Monday show the unemployment level increasing in the three-county North Escambia area
Escambia County’s seasonably adjusted unemployment rate increased from 5.0 percent in December to 5.3 percent in January. There were 7,410 people reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 6.3 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment increased from 4.4 percent to 4.7 percent from December to January.. Santa Rosa County had a total of 3,476 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 5.2 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment increased from 6.8 percent in December to 7.3 percent in December. That represented 1,044 people unemployed in the county during the month. One year ago, the unemployment rate in Escambia County, Alabama, was 7.2 percent.
Florida’s vunemployment rate was 5 percent in January, down from a revised 5.1 percent in December. Both the December and November rates were initially announced at 5 percent before being adjusted to 5.1 percent. The January jobless rate represents 492,000 Floridians being out of work from a labor force of 9.76 million. The state’s unemployment mark, which a year ago was at 5.7 percent, sits just behind the national mark of 4.9 percent.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 6.2 percent in January, was down from December’s rate of 6.3 percent and was above the year-ago rate of 6.0 percent.
The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Emergency Teams Regain Control Of Holman Prison After Stabbings
March 15, 2016
The Alabama Department of Corrections sent three Correctional Emergency Response Teams (CERT) to the William C. Holman Correctional Facility on Monday in response to an inmate-on-inmate stabbing.’
For more information from Gov. Robert Bentley’s visit to the prison Tuesday morning, click here.
Officials report the assault happened at approximately 8:30 a.m. in a prison dormitory when an inmate assaulted another inmate with a makeshift weapon. Corrections officers responded to the incident and removed the victim from the dormitory. The inmate’s injuries were not considered life-threatening.
When officers tried to apprehend the suspect in the stabbing, they were met with resistance. Prisoners became aggressive and barricaded themselves inside the dorm. Officers secured all sections of the prison to prevent the inmates inside the dorm from entering other parts of the facility. Approximately 70 inmates were the dorm at this time of the incident. Inmates had attempted to gain control of the same dormitory on Friday, with the prison regaining control the following morning.
In response to Monday’s disturbance, the CERT entered and regained control of the dorm at approximately 2:45 p.m. The inmates responsible for Mondaday’s disturbance were detained and moved to segregation. The dormitory is again secured and the prison remains on lockdown. No additional injuries to officers or inmates were reported.
The lockdown limits the movement of inmates inside the prison, and officials have temporarily cancelled visitation. A CERT team will remain at the prison to assist corrections officers in maintaining order at the prison.
The corrections officer who was stabbed Friday night is recovering from his injuries. Warden Carter Davenport, who was also stabbed, reported to the prison on Sunday. The inmates who were involved in the weekend stabbings, and other inmates who took part in the disturbance, were being detained away from the prison’s general population
After the weekend disturbance ended, the CERT Teams searched the prison’s housing units and found 30 cellphones, makeshift knives and other contraband. It is not known at this time what prompted the disturbance. An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause.
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley is expected to visit Holman Monday to meet with prison officials and tour the facility to get the latest information on the two disturbances in the past three days that have left three people with stab wounds.
Pictured top: Holman Prison in Atmore Picture below: Visitors to Holman Prison in Atmore were stopped at a guard gate along Highway 21 on Monday as the facility remained under lockdown. NorthEscambia.com photos.
Northview JV Beats Central
March 15, 2016
The Northview junior varsity baseball team defeated Central 9-3 on Monday night to improve to 9-1 on the season.
Both teams exchanged one run in the first inning and the Chiefs added one run in the second and third innings to take a 3-1 lead after three innings. The Chiefs then scored four runs in the fourth to go ahead 7-1. The Jaguars answered with one run in the bottom of the fourth. The Chiefs added two more insurance runs in the fifth to lead 9-2 after five innings. The Jaguars added one more run in the sixth inning.
Leading hitters for the Chiefs were MJ Jones (2-4, 2 R), Wesley Hardin (1-1, 2 RBI), Jason Fischer (1-1, R), Andrew Sharpless (1-1), Cade Allen (1-2, 3 R), John Chivington (1-3, 2 SB, R), Jackson Moore (1-4, 2B), and Heath Sheldt (1-4). Trevor Singleton and Sam Stott also added a run each for the Chiefs.
Trevor Singleton earned the win on the mound, throwing five innings and striking out six batters. Cade Allen threw one inning.
The Chiefs return to action Tuesday night at home against Baker, with JV playing at 4:00 and varsity at 6:00.
Pictured: The JV Northview Chiefs beat Central Monday night 9-3. Photos by Charity Sheldt for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputies Seek West Florida High Vandals
March 15, 2016
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the public’s help in identifying two people who vandalized West Florida High School sometime last Thursday. One suspect is seen on video placing a track hurdle outside a door to the school. Deputies found other track hurdles that had been placed around the property, including the roof. While on school grounds the duo also spray painted graffiti on buildings and sidewalks. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9630 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Big Issues Met Different Fates During 2016 Session
March 14, 2016
A couple sailed through quickly. Others bumped along until finally passing. Still others flamed out before getting votes.
Throughout the 60-day legislative session that ended Friday night, big issues confronted the House, Senate and Gov. Rick Scott. Here is what happened — or didn’t — in 10 key areas.
BUDGET: The House and Senate signed off Friday on an $82.3 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The budget, which is about $3 billion more than Gov. Rick Scott proposed, drew nearly unanimous bipartisan support. Among other things, the budget will increase per-student spending on public schools by 1 percent, moving it to a record amount, and includes money for Everglades restoration. During the closing days of the session, speculation focused on whether Scott would veto large parts of the budget — or possibly even the whole spending plan. While widespread vetoes remain a possibility, Scott described the plan Friday night as a “good budget.”
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Scott suffered a defeat when lawmakers did not go along with his high-profile request to set aside $250 million for incentives to attract businesses to Florida. Scott spent months trying to build support for the money, traveling the state and enlisting support from local officials and business leaders. But many lawmakers expressed skepticism about the proposal, and House and Senate leaders decided to leave it out of the budget. That decision fanned much of the speculation about Scott’s possible budget vetoes.
EDUCATION: During the closing hours of the session, lawmakers approved a wide-ranging education bill that drew praise from supporters of school choice. The bill, in part, would allow parents to transfer their children to any public school in the state that isn’t at capacity. Also, it would give charter schools that serve lower-income students or children with disabilities a bigger slice of state construction funding. One of the biggest education debates of the session focused on the “Best and Brightest” program, which provides bonuses to teachers. The program has faced criticism because it partly ties the bonuses to teachers’ scores on college-admissions tests. Best and Brightest was included in the new budget, despite protests about whether it will improve student achievement and whether it is fair. Supporters say the program can help attract high-performing college students into the teaching profession.
GAMBLING: The Scott administration and the Seminole Tribe of Florida late last year reached agreement on a plan that called for the tribe to pay $3 billion to the state over seven years in exchange for being able to offer roulette and craps at Seminole casinos. But the agreement, known as a “compact,” required legislative approval and, as often happens with gambling issues in Tallahassee, set off a feeding frenzy. The House and Senate put together broad proposals that dealt with issues such as allowing slot machines at pari-mutuel facilities outside South Florida. The proposals ultimately died without getting votes in the full House or Senate.
GUNS: The National Rifle Association and other gun-rights advocates typically hold a huge amount of influence in the Republican-controlled Legislature. But two major gun bills died this year after supporters could not steer them through the Senate. One of the bills would have allowed people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns on college and university campuses. The other bill would have allowed people with the licenses to openly carry firearms. Senate Judiciary Chairman Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, did not take up either bill in his committee, effectively blocking them from advancing.
HEALTH CARE: After the issues percolated throughout the legislative session, lawmakers Friday approved proposals to change some health-care regulations and to offer more information to patients about the prices of medical services. House Republican leaders have made regulatory changes a priority, arguing that such moves would help increase competition and choices in the health-care system. The proposals approved Friday, for example, include allowing advanced registered nurse practitioners to prescribe controlled substances — a long-debated issue. During the final week, lawmakers also approved allowing terminally ill patients to have access to medical marijuana.
JUSTICE SYSTEM: Lawmakers and Scott rushed to approve a new death-penalty sentencing law after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in January that Florida’s sentencing system was unconstitutional. Scott signed a bill that seeks to address the Supreme Court ruling, which essentially said Florida has given too much power to judges, instead of juries, in sentencing defendants to death. Also during the session, the Legislature approved a bill aimed at ending years of court battles with counties about how juvenile-detention costs should be divided. The bill came after an appeals court ruling that could have put the state on the hook for more than $100 million in back payments to counties.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, made a top priority of helping people with developmental disabilities — or, as he describes them, “unique abilities.” As a result, the Senate and House started the session by quickly approving a package of bills designed to provide more job and educational opportunities to people with disabilities. But Gardiner, whose son has Down syndrome, also got a victory in the final two hours of the session. The Senate took up a bill and stuck on an amendment that would require insurance plans to cover such services as speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy for people with Down syndrome. The amended bill quickly passed the Senate and then was approved by the House.
TAX CUTS: Scott tried to drill home a message for months: Lawmakers needed to approve $1 billion in tax cuts and $250 million in economic-incentive money to help bolster job growth and business recruitment. But lawmakers did not go along with the incentive money and approved far fewer tax cuts than Scott wanted. A package approved Friday includes $129.1 million in tax cuts, including the permanent elimination of sales taxes on manufacturing equipment. Also, it includes holding a three-day tax “holiday” in August for back-to-school shoppers. Lawmakers, however, also spent state money to help hold down local property taxes that otherwise would be needed to fund public schools.
WATER: With heavy support from House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, lawmakers started the session by quickly passing a wide-ranging bill to set new water policies for the state. The plan, in part, includes establishing water-flow levels for natural springs and setting guidelines for the Central Florida Water Initiative. Also, it addresses establishing management plans for farming around Lake Okeechobee and nearby waterways. Lawmakers then ended the session by passing another high-profile water initiative known as “Legacy Florida.” That initiative, in part pushed by incoming Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, calls for spending more than $250 million a year on Everglades restoration, springs and Lake Apopka.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Jay, Northview Students Picked For Washington Youth Tour
March 14, 2016
Rebecca Boutwell of Jay High School and Zipporah Harris of Northview High School have been name winners of the Escambia River Electric Cooperative 2016 Youth Tour to Washington contest.
Judges from PowerSouth Energy Cooperative in Andalusia, AL, and Southern Pine Electric Cooperative in Brewton, AL, scored contestants in their interviews based on their knowledge of Escambia River Electric Cooperative and the history of rural electrification. Personal attributes of each candidate such as character, academic ability, personality and leadership skills were also considered.
Britt and Wiggins will represent EREC on the Washington Youth Tour in June. They will also have the chance to see the sites, learn about the nation’s capital, rural electrification and more.
Ernest Ward Names Spring King And Queen
March 14, 2016
Ernest Ward Middle School held a Spring Dance Friday night, naming a queen and her court based upon student votes.
King Colton Dockens and Queen Cloe Smith reigned over the dance, along with their court: Sixth Grade Knight Jace Gifford, Sixth Grade Maiden Shelby Rice, Seventh Grade Knight Jonathan Windham and Seventh Grade Maiden Mary Paige Nasser.
Pictured top: Ernest Ward Middle Spring Dance Queen Cloe Smith and King Colton Dockens. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Fiery Highway 97 Rollover Crash
March 13, 2016
There were no injuries in a fiery rollover crash on Highway 97 in Molino Sunday morning.
The female driver of a northbound car lost control just north of Gibson Road, ran into the ditch, hit a culvert and went airborne before her vehicle came to rest upside down in a ditch about 8:50 a.m.. The driver, who was wearing a seat belt, was able to crawl out of the vehicle before it became engulfed in flames. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
The driver refused transport to the hospital.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details, including the name of the driver, have not yet been released.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the crash.
Pictured top: A volunteer firefighter checks a still smoldering car for additional victims following a single vehicle rollover crash on Highway 97 in Molino Sunday morning. Pictured inset and below: There were no injuries in the crash. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
